Pbeparing coal



H. 1r. & E. MAYHEW. V Preparing Coa. No. 27,373. i Patented March 6, 1860.

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N, Pneus. Pnumimgmpher, wnshingm UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

H. MAYHEW, JR., AND E. MAYHEV, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

PREPARING COAL.

Specicaton of Letters Patent No. 27,373, dated March 6, 1860.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that we, HAZAEL MAYHEW, J r., and ENocH MAYHEw, of the city of Lancaster, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful mode of preparing coal to make it better in quality, so as to improve the manufacture of iron, and more valuable and useful for steam-engines, smithwork, gas, &c.; and we do hereby de- Clare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The nature of our invention consists in the mode and manner of preparing coal, by the use of an air-tight coal bin (in which coa-l is boiled or steamed) by being attached to an ordinary steam boiler having a steam pipe extending through a fire into the coal bin, so that coal can be made of a better quality by thus bringing itinto contact with hydrogen.

A, represents an ordinary steam-boiler with safety valve; B on top; C, a fire door; D, a fire grate; E, an aperture to admit air and draft; F, the smoke pipe; G, the steam pipe passing down from the top of boiler A passing through the lire place, and extending into the lower chamber of the coal bin H. This pipe Gr has a movable joint or separate piece I which rests in and upon the lire for the purpose of heating the steam as it passes from the boiler to the bin, or when iron filings or clippings are placed therein, to produce hydrogen gas. J, an aperture through which the coal is thrown into the bin H. K an inclined bottom, which is perforated for the steam or hydrogen to pass through from the pipe G. This perforated bottom rests at an inclination of about 45 degrees, so that the bin can be readily emptied ofthe coal at any time, by opening the air tight door L.

The bin H is made of boiler iron and air tight, and has a cone shaped or diminished top M so as to keep the hot steam or hydrogen on the body of the coal.

At the center of the top is an escape pipe N, through which, when necessary, the

steam can be discharged and by which the required pressure of steam is regulated.

P is the lower bottom of the bin H; between this bottom and the upper end of the incline bottom K is an air tight door Q for the purpose of cleaning out the dust and dirt that may accumulate in the lower chamber between the upper bottom K and lower bottom l?.

R is a stop cock to coniine the steam until a sufficient quantity is generated.

We therefore prepare the coal, by throwing it into the air or steam tight bin H and boiling or steaming the coal to a high degree in the bin containing it, by passing the steam rst over divided iron at a red or white heat, and then into the bin containing the coal. By this method a portion of hydrogen is liberated from the water and absorbed by the carbon, thereby rendering the coal more inflammable and of a better quality, for the manufacture of gas, iron, smithwork, the use of steam engines, and all other equivalent purposes for which it may be employed.

The time necessary to accomplish the above results, is from two to iive hours; and the pressure of steam necessary for said, ranges from tive to twenty pounds, both of which must be regulated by the quantity, and density of the coal being prepared; the

hard anthracite coal, requiring a much longer time than the bituminous coal.

We do not claim the removal of sulfur, phosphorus, or their compounds with oxygen &c. from coal, as we consider' that these substances if not essential to the quality of coal, counter act each other and are therefore not injurious, but

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letter Patent is- The improvement in making coal better in quality, by bringing it into contact with hydrogen by the mode and manner herein specified.

H. MAYHEV, JR. E. MAYHEV. `Witnesses:

WM. GUMMINGS, J. M. GAINTUE. 

